THE IMPACT OF HOFSTEDE’S NATIONAL CULTURAL DIMENSIONS ON TRUST: A RESEARCH IN GAZZA STRIP SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN PALASTINE

This study examines the impact of Hofstede’s (1980) four national cultural dimensions (collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) on trust between school teachers and their principals in secondary schools in the Gaza Strip in Palestine using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Using qualitative data from eight informants and drawing on our review of cross-cultural trust literature, we define interpersonal trust and derive a model of Hofstede’s national cultural dimensions on interpersonal trust between school teachers and their principals in Gaza Strip in Palestine. Regression analysis results indicate that three of Hofstede’s national cultural dimensions namely collectivism, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity are positively related to trust, however, power distance is negatively related to trust between teachers and principals.